Political activities by the NGOs must be geared to addressing national tasks of state importance, but it would be impermissible to use them for addressing narrow party issues, Putin says

Russian President Vladimir Putin

MOSCOW, January 15. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that the system of grant support for non-profit organizations can be made more flexible and effective.

“I fully agree with the view that the system of grant support for non-profit organizations can and should be made more flexible and effective,” the president told the “State and Civil Society” forum.

Political activities by the non-governmental organizations must be geared to addressing national tasks of state importance, but it would be impermissible to use them for addressing narrow party issues, Russian President Vladimir Putin told the Civic Forum on Thursday.

“When it comes to the NGOs involved in politics, I should say their activities must be geared to addressing national tasks,” Putin said. “For instance, measures to improve the political system, the judicial system and the law enforcement system. Human rights activities, too — this goes without saying. But it would be utterly wrong and impermissible to use the NGOs for addressing narrow party issues, because in that case the very essence of NGOs is lost."

The president is believes that this work should be arranged for properly and transplanted to the sphere of inter-party relations. Putin took note of a remark by one of the speakers to the effect public activity was drifting away from politics to social affairs.

“There is nothing extraordinary about that. When elections draw near, you and me will see that activity flow the other way. That does not mean that the government will not support the NGOs involved in politics.”